Go Steve - Steve's Updates

Updates from Steve’s cancer-free life

June 1, 2005

(from Mike Rybak)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , — By steve @ 4:06 pm

Steve wasn’t able to start his lastest part of chemo because the enzymes in his liver were out of wack. So he’s been waiting for 8 days and hoping that today he’ll be able to get going again. Beyond that his spirits are still high and his appetite is back to normal. He hasn’t been on any of much pain medicine recently or any much medicine at all which has left him in his clearest state of mind since he’s been there.

He talks about how hard it is to be in the hospital and you can see his emotions go up and down in the hours you spend talking with him but he continually says that the only way that he is getting through this is with the support that we’ve given him. Everything from the letters, to visits, to emails, to phone calls all help him.

May 21, 2005

(from Eric Jerke)

Filed under: chemotherapy — Tags: , , , , — By steve @ 3:59 pm

Rodney and I went to visit Steve, he was in really good spirits. We talked for a couple of hours and he was very upbeat the entire time. He was a little dissappointed that he couldn’t start his next session of chemo because he is on antibiotics for his fungal infection. He said he hasn’t thrown up since Wednesday and that he feels a lot better. He is really hoping on Monday or Tuesday they will start his next Chemotherapy session.

He still hasn’t eaten. He doesn’t even feel hungry because they are injecting him with an IV of “food”. His hair was falling out pretty badly and he was getting hair all over his sheets so they shaved his head on Thursday or Friday. He said that he moves around a lot so he is getting a good upper body work out. As for his legs, he had a physical therapy person in for the first time last week and will most likely come in once or twice a week from now on. On a bad note, he will not leave the bed he is on until his surgery.

Steve mentioned that out of his classes, 2 of them gave him grades of an ‘A’. Libby also said 2 of her classes gave her an ‘A’. He said that he has until halfway through next semester to finish his classes. He also said that he has no motivation to open up his school books to study. Who could blame him.

One thing I didn’t know until I went to visit him was that Libby literally stays with him in a cot next to his bed. I thought this very awesome of the hospital. As of right now his surgery to remove the tumor is scheduled to occur in August. He is hoping that he will be able to come to homecoming.

He really likes having visitors, and the best way to find out if it is a good time to visit is to call Libby @ 651-216-9366. Please keep him in your prayers.

May 18, 2005

(from Josh Malnourie)

The endoscopy showed what appears to be some fungal growth right above his stomach in the lower part of his throat. This seems to explain the constant vomiting and soreness that Steve has been experiencing. This also means that the Chemo treatment has been delayed at least one week. Steve is on anti-fungal medication right now for this, and it will be monitored to ensure it goes away.

Sounds like Steve will be moving rooms soon, as they are remodeling the section of rooms that Steve is in now. More info to come in the next week.

Timberwolves cheerleaders were visiting folks in the hospital today. However, they were not able to stop in and visit Steve in his room. This didn’t really bother Steve at all, but Glenn and I were pretty disappointed as Glenn had his camera ready

Today for the first time certain food smells were pretty bothersome to Steve. So if you can help it, don’t bring in a juicy steak to eat in front of him, as that smell (or others) could make him feel ill. (not to mention it’s mean as Steve has not been able to eat anything for over 2 weeks!

no vomiting today (so far – yesterday he vomited right around midnight)

4 weeks down ~30 to go!